Electro-mechanical lock assembly

• US 6,867,685 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2000
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Star Lock Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Star Lock Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Stillwagon, Woodrow C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US09/567,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/5.65, 340/5.6, 340/5.66, 340/5.67, 70/34, 702/77, 702/08, 292/341.16, 292/341.17
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0092 Moving otherwise than only rectilinearly or only rotatively E05B5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/1614 of hard materials, to prevent drilling E05B67/04, E05B67/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0657 by locking the handle, spindle, follower or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 5/003 Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/702 Pivoted or swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

An electro-mechanical lock release assembly for an enclosure such as a vending machine and including an electronic lock controller for disengaging a lock assembly securing the door of the enclosure against the enclosure frame in a closed, locked position. The lock controller is actuated remotely through a key controller to disengage the lock assembly and enable the door of the enclosure to be moved to an open position for accessing the enclosure.

Claims

1. An electronic lock release for unlocking a door of an enclosure, comprising:

a locking assembly including a post, a T-handle for rotating said post, a lock housing defining a longitudinal passage adapted to receive a portion of said post therethrough, and a locking element housed in said T-handle and movable into locking engagement with said lock housing for securing the door in a locked position;

a release mechanism mounted adjacent said locking assembly for disengaging said locking element from locking engagement within said housing to enable said T-handle to rotate said post within said lock housing to open the locked enclosure;

wherein said release mechanism includes;

a lock controller including an actuator automatically actuatable in response to a control signal for controlling the release of said locking element to permit rotation of said post within said lock housing, a key controller remotely transmitting the control signal indirectly through the enclosure to said lock controller, and

a release element positioned adjacent said locking assembly and moveable between an engaging position and a non-engaging position by said actuator for disengaging said locking element of said locking housing to permit rotation of said post to unlock the door of the enclosure.

2. The lock release apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said actuator includes a solenoid having a plunger element that is moved in response to actuation of said solenoid to cause said release element to be moved from its engaging position to its nonengaging position to disengage said locking element from said post.

3. The lock release apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising an RF data link, and wherein said key controller includes a hand held RF transmitter for transmitting an RF pulse signal containing control signals across a desired distance to said RF data link, and a power source for powering said key controller.

4. The lock release apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising an infrared link and wherein said key controller includes an infrared transceiver for communicating with said infrared link.

5. The lock release apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lock controller and said key controller include software for recording access information transmitted in response to actuation of said lock controller and for restricting access to the enclosure upon receipt of nonconforming access information.

6. The lock release apparatus of claim 5, wherein said software records the nonconforming access information.

7. The lock release apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said release mechanism further includes a support saddle received about said post and said lock housing and to which said release element is movably mounted for engaging said locking element.

8. The lock release apparatus of claim 7 and fisher including a gauging element mounted to said support saddle for positioning said release mechanism to engage said locking bolt.

9. A lock release apparatus for securing a door to a door frame of an enclosure, comprising:

a lock assembly having a post, a T-handle rotatably mounted to the door and having a locking element movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and a lock housing mounted to the door frame and positioned to support said post therethrough whereby said locking element is urged into engagement with said lock housing to obstruct post rotation and to secure the door to the door frame in a locked position;

an electronic lock control system including an actuator for causing said locking element to be released and enable said post to be rotated in said lock housing and a key controller capable of remotely communicating with said lock controller for transmitting a control signal indirectly through the enclosure to said lock controller; and

a lock release mechanism mounted adjacent said lock assembly and having a release element adapted to engage and urge said locking element into a release position disengaged from said lock housing upon actuation of said actuator.

10. The locking apparatus of claim 9 and further comprising a data/power link comprising an inductive coupling.

11. The locking apparatus of claim 9 and wherein said lock controller comprises a processor and a capacitor for disengaging said lock assembly.

12. The locking apparatus of claim 9 and wherein said lock assembly comprises a T-handle lock and a second lock housing, mounted within the enclosure and wherein said post includes a distal portion having a first end adapted to engage said second lock housing in locking engagement to secure the door in a locked position against the frame of the enclosure and a second spaced from said first end, and a proximal portion slidably received within said second end of said distal portion and having a handle mounted thereto for rotating said post to disengage said post from the second lock housing.

13. A method of unlocking a door releasibly secured to a frame of an enclosure, comprising:

remotely transmitting a control command from a key controller indirectly through the enclosure to a lock controller;

energizing an actuator for a locking assembly for the door;

as the actuator is energized, moving a release element positioned adjacent the locking assembly into engagement with a locking element of the locking assembly;

moving the locking element to an unlocked position with the release element, disengaged from a lock housing mounted to the frame of the enclosure; and

disengaging the locking assembly and opening the door of the enclosure.

14. The method of claim 13 and wherein the step of transmitting a control command comprises indirectly transmitting power and data signals through the door from the key controller to a corresponding data/power link that transfers such power and data signals to the lock controller.

15. The method of claim 13 and further including transferring data and programming information between the key controller and lock controller prior to engaging the actuator for the lock assembly.

16. The method of claim 13 and wherein the step of moving a release element comprises extending a plunger as said actuator is energized, urging the release element toward the lock element with the extension of the plunger and moving the lock element out of engagement with a lock housing to release the locking assembly.

17. The method of claim 16 and further including releasing a T-handle as the locking element is moved to its unlocked, nonengaging position and rotating the T-handle to disengage a locking post from a locking housing to enable opening of the door.